The International Relations of Middle-earth: Learning from The Lord of the Rings

Appendix B: How the Story Ends

—appendix b— How the Story Ends Frodo and Sam reach the opening of Mount Doom. They enter, but at the Crack of Doom, Frodo is unable to ful‹ll his mission, ‹nally overtaken by the evil power of the Ring. He decides instead to claim the Ring for himself and puts it on. At that moment he is attacked by Gollum, who knocks Sam unconscious and then bites off Frodo’s ‹nger and takes the Ring for himself. Gollum, however, loses his balance and falls into the Crack of Doom, taking the Ring with him. At that moment the Ring is consumed in the ›ames, and Sauron and all of his works, are destroyed. The Dark Tower of Mordor falls, and Sauron’s minions on the ‹eld of battle surrender or run off in terror. At long last, Middle-earth is free of the evil of Sauron. Aragorn takes the throne of Gondor as King Elessar and enjoys a long and successful reign. He and Arwen, Elrond’s daughter, are wed and rule over Gondor together. Faramir and Éowyn also are wed, which unites the kingdoms of Gondor and Rohan. Legolas and Gimli journey through Middle-earth together, each showing the other his favorite places. This put to rest the old animosity between Elves and Dwarves once and for all. After a period of celebration, the Hobbits return from Gondor to the Shire. However, on their arrival, they are horri‹ed to ‹nd the Shire under the rule of evil Men in the employ of Saruman, who was released by the Ents. Some Hobbits, out of fear or opportunism, have joined the new regime, which rules by terror. Any Hobbit who de‹es Saruman can expect to be mistreated and even put in jail or killed. Led by Merry and Pippin , now experienced warriors, the Hobbits mobilize and overthrow the dictatorship in the last battle ever fought in the Shire. Saruman, in total 214 disgrace, attempts to stab Frodo, only to be stabbed to death by Wormtongue , his last remaining follower. For some time the Hobbits dwell peacefully in the Shire. The injury received by Frodo at Weathertop never fully heals, however, and he cannot be at peace in Middle-earth. With Gandalf, Bilbo, and others, he leaves Middle-earth to escape the legacy of the Ring. Merry and Pippin, after many happy years in the Shire, return to Gondor to live out their ‹nal years as honored guests. The now heroic Sam marries Rosie Cotton, has many children, and serves as the Shire’s mayor for seven consecutive terms. As a widower, he ‹nally crosses the sea as well—the last of the Ring Bearers to leave Middle-earth. Appendixes • 215 ...